"The money was too loud. The Success was too much." Even Pharrell isn't too keen on his debut solo work, but In My Mind is an early hip-hop/r&b hybrid that's become the norm right now. Here's the OG Lab review: "his album got pushed back about 30 times, but it was worth it cause they've refined it down to 15 solido tracks, and Pharrell's raps can always use a little extra seasoning. Seriously though, he's got a lot better and the guest spots from Jay-Z, Slim Thug, Kanye, et al usually pop up at the right moment. The album is about half cosmic Pharrell party music (raps) and half bedroom joints (JT-style singing). I don't know what to really think about those yet, but you gotta respect P's gangster for trying something new. And his beats are really on some other shit lately, sounding the same way his pants look in the "Number One" video: expensive, european, tight, and pastel. Right now, he is to sample-based hip-hop what early '80s r&b was to hardcore funk. Just taking it there on some I Level type shit. Surprisingly not that many club banguhs, but out of the non-single stuff, I'm getting into "Raspy Shit" & "Show You How To Hustle," "Young Girl" with Jay-Z, "Keep It Playa," with Slim Thug, and "You Can Do It Too." You should already be up on warm up singles "Can I Have It Like That," "That Girl," and "Angel."

• translucent blue vinyl
• music label: Star Trak 2006 / 2019

reviewed by the mgmnt 08/2006